Attachment for stringed instruments.



PATENTED AUG. 29, 1905.

C. MAWER.

ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.15,1904.

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PATENTED AUG. 29, 1905.

G. MAWER. ATTACHMENT POE STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

AYPLIOATIOH FILED OUT. 15.1904.

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CES MAWER, OF HARPSTER, OHIO.

ATTACHMENT FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Aug; 29, 1905.

Application filed October 15, 1904. Serial No. 228,595.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Gus MAwnR, a citizen of the United States, residingat Harpster, in the county of VVyandot and State of Ohio, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Attachments for Stringed Instruments, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stringed instruments such as employ inconnection with the neck thereof a keyboard having a plurality ofmovable keys.

The objects of the invention are to improve and simplify theconstruction of such keyboards; furthermore, to increase theirefficiency in operation.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention resides inthe combination and arrangement of parts and in the details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed as a practical embodimentthereof.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a plan view of a stringed instrument having the improved keyboardof this invention secured to the neck thereof. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation. Fig. 3 is a similar view, partly in section. Fig. 1 is atransverse section through the neck of the instrument and through thekeyboard. Fig. 5 is an under plan view of the improved keyboard. Fig. 6is a perspective view of the clamp used for hing-ing the keyboard to theneck of the instrument. Fig. 7 is a plan view illustrating a modifiedconstruction of the finger-pieces which are used in connection with thekeyboard. Figs. 8 and 9 are longitudinal sections through the neck ofthe instrument and keyboard, showing the method of manipulating thelinger-pieces when it is desired to secure a tremolo effect. Fig. 10 isa detail perspective view of one of the keys.

Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the differentviews.

The numeral 1 indicates the neck of a stringed instrumentsuch, forexample, as a violin. The neck 1 is provided with the usual tuning-keys2 for the strings 3. Surrounding the neck 1 is a removable clamp A,which, as shown in Fig. 6, is formed with the sides 4: and 5, havinglateral offsets 6, connected by a cross-piece 7, having a cut-awayportion 8,said cross-piece 7 being formed integral with the offsets 6and extending across the front portion of the neck 1. As shown in Fig.3,

the,eut-away portion .8 of the cross-piece 7 serves to prevent saidcross-piece from contacting with the strings 3.

Hinged to the side piece 5, as shown at 9, is a cross-piece 10, which isintended to extend across the rear portion of the neck 1. Thecross-piece 10 is provided with a tightening-screw 11, having a swiveledhead 12, adapted to abut against the rear portion of the neck 1. Thecross-piece 10 is also formed with a bent lip or flange 13, having aperforation therein to receive a screw 1 1. By means of the hingedcross-piece 10 the clamp A can be removed from the neck of theinstrument whenever desired.

The sides a and 5 of the clam p A are formed with extensions and 16,between which the forward end of the keyboard B is hinged, as shown at17. The keyboard B is formed along its side edges with integral flanges18, which bear against the front portion of the neck 1, the spacesbetween said flanges serving to prevent any muffling of the sound of thestrings. At its free end 19 the hinged keyboard B is formed on each ofits sides with flanges 20, which are twisted in such manner that "theportion 21 of each flange rests against the front portion of the neck 1,and the portion 22 of each flange extends over the corner of said neckand rests against the side thereof. The purpose of the twisted flangesis to prevent the formation of a shoulder, against which the hand of theplayer might strike in moving to and fro upon the neck of theinstrument.

The keyboard B is p rovidcd with a plurality of keys having contactingportions 23, provided with felt or other suitable material, as indicatedin Fig. 5. The flexible or springsupporting portion 24 of each key isformed with a longitudinal slot 25, through which extends a screw 26,litting into a suitable socket in the keyboard. By means of the slots 25and screws 26 the keys may be adjusted longitudinally upon the keyboardto a slight extent in order to secure contact .with the strings at theproper points. At the lower portion or end 19 of the keyboard thecontact portion 23 of each key is laterally offset with respect to thespring portion 2a, whereby the contacting portions of the various keysmay be disposed close to each other without interfering with the lengthof the resilient or spring portion 2 1. In addition to the contactingportion 23 and the spring-supporting portion 2 1 each of the keys alsoincludes a finger-piece, such as 27, having longitudinal extensions 28at each end. By pressing first on one end 28 of the finger portion ofeach key and then upon the other end, so as to flex the springsupportingportion 24, as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9, a tremolo effect may beproduced, such manipulation of the keys causing first the corner 29 andthen the corner 30 of the contacting portion 23 to contact with thestring.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the expressionkey is intended to describe a construction comprising aspring-supporting portion, a contacting portion, and a finger-piece.

In order to develop greater skill in playing the instrument, thelongitudinal extensions 28 of the finger-pieces 27 may be dispensedwith, as indicated in Fig. 7. It will be apparent that greater skillwill be required to manipulate the small finger-pieces shown in Fig. 7than will be required to manipulate the comparatively largefinger-pieces shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the finger-pieces of a portion of the keys aredarkened or shaded in any suitable manner to distinguish them clearlyfrom the remaining keys.

By hinging the improved keyboard to the neck of the instrument saidkeyboard may be moved away from the neck without detaching it therefromwhen it is necessary to place a new set of strings upon the instrument.In the event that it is desired to dispense entirely with the keyboardthe clamp A, together with. the keyboard B, is detached from the neck 1.

The twisted flanges 20, preferably, are provided with wing-nuts 20 tosecure the keyboard rigidly in position upon the neck of the instrument.

Changes in the precise embodiment of invention illustrated and describedmay be made within the scope of the following claims without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. Thecombination with a stringed instrument, of a keyboard therefor, and ayieldinglysupported key mounted on said keyboard to rock longitudinallyof the springs.

2. A stringed instrument having a detachable elamp thereon, and akeyboard hinged to said clamp, having twisted flanges for the purposespecified.

3. A stringed instrument having a keyboard secured to the neck portionthereof, said keyboard being provided with twisted fianges contactingwith the front and side portions of said neck.

a. The combination with a stringed instrument, of a keyboard having keysformed with flexible supporting portions, attached to the keyboard andcontacting portions laterally offset with respect to the supportingportions, for the purpose specified.

5. The combination with a stringed instrument, of a keyboard having keysformed with flexible supporting portions adjustably attached to thekeyboard, and contacting portions laterally offset with respect to thesupporting portions for the purpose specified.

6. The combination with a stringed instrument, of a detachable keyboardhaving keys provided with supporting portions formed with longitudinalslots, and screws extending through said slots and into said keyboard.

7. The combination with the neck of a stringed instrument, of a keyboardhaving keys provided with flexible supporting portions, andlinger-pieces connected with said keys and having longitudinalextensions for the purpose specified.

8. A detachable keyboard for stringed instruments, having adjustablesprings thereon, contacting portions laterally offset from said springs,and finger-pieces connected with said springs and contacting portions,and having longitudinal extensions for the purpose specified.

9. The combination with a stringed instrument, of a clamp surroundingthe neck thereof, said clamp having side pieces formed with lateraloffsets, a cross-piece connecting said offsets and having a cut-awayportion, a second cross-piece hinged to one of said side pieces andadapted to be detachably secured lo the other, a clam ping member onsaid hinged cross-piece, extensions on said side pieces, a keyboardhinged to said extensions, keys on said keyboard, and twisted flanges onsaid keyboard bearing agail'ist the front and side portions of the neckof the instrument, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof .I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

(JES M ANVJGR.

Witnesses H. H. N EWELL, J. E. STIAGGS.

